“Re-Entry should not be understood as the closing of the book on the overseas experience, for in a larger sense, re-entry never truly ends. After all, people don’t actually get over experiences, especially profound ones, as much as they incorporate them into their character and personality and respond to all subsequent experience from the perspective of their new self.”
- Craig Storti
Especially that phrase “people don’t actually get over experiences.”
It reminded me of a conversation I had in my travels with a young lady who feels the pressure to “get over” something that I don’t think she’ll ever “get over.”
And maybe she shouldn’t.
. . . we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Rom 5:3-5
3 comments:
I would agree with that quote:)
Have a wonderful time with your family.
God bless,
laurel
Thanks, Aunt Laurie. Whether or not the 'young lady' is me, it applies.
I really, really appreciated this. Jean-Marc and I often wonder if we are getting "stuck" in both our Acadia experience and our Japan experience. It's good to have some assurance that maybe we aren't stuck, but just "profoundly changed". Unfortunately, those who imply that one should "get over it" are those who haven't had such a profound experience, and cannot understand or appreciate being changed by it. It's very difficult to convey to how the experience has left a lasting impact.
Anyways, thank-you for this!
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